California State PTA Endorses Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act

Million-member organization mobilizes to qualify initiative for November ballot

Sacramento - Feb. 4, 2010 - The California State PTA announced that it is mobilizing its nearly 1 million members to support Californians for Improved School Funding's ballot initiative, the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act (www.improvedschoolfunding.com).
  If qualified for the November 2010 ballot and approved by voters, the proposed Act would lower the threshold for passage of educational parcel taxes to 55 percent, from the current 66.6 percent - two-thirds - provided certain requirements are met. These include advance disclosure on how funds will be spent, annual audits, oversight by an independent citizens' committee, and offering an exemption to senior citizens. Funds raised under the initiative could not be taken or offset by the state in its educational funding decisions. www.improvedschoolfunding.com)

Break the Chains of Toxic Pesticides and Child Slavery on Valentine's Day

Now is the time of year when more than 20 million Americans are buying sweets and flowers for their loved ones on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, these tokens of love aren't as sweet or pure as they may appear. Over 40 percent of the world's conventional chocolate (i.e. non-organic and non-Fair Trade) comes from Africa's Ivory Coast, where the International Labor Organization and US State Department have reported widespread instances of child slavery. Meanwhile, commercial flowers, most of which are produced in countries such as Colombia, are the most toxic and heavily sprayed agricultural crops on Earth. Supplying the global market, poorly paid workers in Third World countries put in up to 18 hour work days for poverty wages during peak flower buying times such as Valentine's Day. But don't let the bad news squelch your Valentine's plans. Show your love by choosing Fair Trade and organic flowers and chocolate for your Valentine's Day gifts.

Please send a letter to the editor action exposing toxic pesticides and child slavery in the flower and cacao industries

For the Eleventh year, Access Sacramento launches "A Place Called Sacramento" (PCS),  a scriptwriting and short film production project for local writers and producers. PCS  challenges local scriptwriters to write ten-minute scripts about the people, places, and  events that make our community such a unique place to live (entry forms on-line at www.AccessSacramento.org). The deadline for script submission is noon Monday

April 19, 2010 in the Access Sacramento office.  For more information